Tool/Emergency Kit Diet?

[Twisties]

Well, this is how it looks now:

It weighs 7 lbs and it needs to go on a diet!

It's purpose bears consideration: Road repairs... things that are reasonably likely and will get you going again in a remote area.

I am thinking anything to do with pulling the wheels and tire irons needs to go. Sticky ropes and slime pump can stay.
Fuses are small and light. Ok, they can stay.
Tape, Flashlight, JB Weld, Spare AA's. All good.

What about the rest? Sockets, socket drive, hex, allen and screw driver tips, open/box wrenches? What would I actually do with these things on the road or in the outback?

 

[dcstrom]

Thanks for posting this Twisties - putting together a similar kit. I wonder about the sockets too, they are heavy but on the other hand when you need them they are so much more useful than a wrench. Leaning toward taking a small selection.

I'm including some electrical things in my kit - a small meter and positaps, some extra wire and fuses of course.

Taking an oil filter and wrench, brake pads, final drive and fork seals (been a few reports of weeping - they are cheap and small) because I may not be able to get them where I'm going. Filter is a question, probably available most places so just the wrench.

 

[Twisties]

I guess I could add that what I've actually used from all of this is the 14 mm box/open end wrench for adjusting the mirrors, the tire pressure gauge and slime pump, and on another bike I used the sticky ropes.

What I didn't have and might have wanted once was a VOM.

 

[troll]

I would not give up my option to remove the rear/front wheels, or to remove the tire from the rim ???.

 

[Twisties]

For YT/AK I will be under 8 k miles, or maybe just a tad over. I will do an oil and filter change before I go. The filter is only specified for change every other oil change, e.g. every 8k miles. The SW-Motech skid plate protects it reasonably well. I figure some risk is unavoidable. Thinking this is one I will accept as a possible need, but sufficiently unlikely as to warrant the risk.

 

[Twisties]

I would not give up my option to remove the rear/front wheels, or to remove the tire from the rim ???.

The thing is that although I have the 19 mm hex and 27 mm/ 1 1/16" socket, and appropriate adapters to turn them with my socket wrench, my experience is that it takes a breaker bar to free those big fittings up. So I really don't think that I could in fact remove a wheel in the field without help. I was thinking maybe it was worth it to carry the hex and socket as they are fairly unusual and then depend on local help for the breaker bar. I guess I could add a cheater for the socket wrench.

But let's say I get the wheel off and the tire off? Then what? I guess I could add a patch style tire repair kit or mushroom kit in addition to the sticky ropes. But as I am configured right now if sticky ropes don't work then I need a tire. Smash the wheel and I need a tow. The sticky ropes work with the tire on the bike.

You think I should add another tire repair kit and keep the tools?

 

[52edub]

A good mulit-tool should replace most pliers, screwdrivers and such. Never go without zip ties and wire. I can fix anything with those two.

 

[dcstrom]

But let's say I get the wheel off and the tire off? Then what? I guess I could add a patch style tire repair kit or mushroom kit in addition to the sticky ropes. But as I am configured right now if sticky ropes don't work then I need a tire. Smash the wheel and I need a tow. The sticky ropes work with the tire on the bike.

One thing I'm going to carry is an 18" tube - that way if I ding a wheel (a la Pluric) or slash a tire, I will have a way of making it hold air until I get to civilization.

 

[Twisties]

Ok, this configuration weighs 3 lbs and 3 oz:

All the stuff going out is up at the top.

 

[troll]

really, you probably won't use most of those either :-\

 

[dcstrom]

Your front and rear axle tools are out? That's going to limit your repair options to rope plugs... and that's about it. If you have to rely on someone else for wheel removal tools... well 27mm socket shouldn't be hard to find, but the 19mm allen for the front might be a problem. I'll be taking both - but the rear will be in the form of one of these...

http://www.bestrestproducts.com/p-329-besthex-27-mm.aspx

They work with a tire iron through the slot. HOWEVER - that was when I thought I wouldn't be taking a 3/8" ratchet and other sockets. I bought this instead

Which I found to be too small to be useful for anything much... so back to carrying a ratchet and a few sockets, in which case why not throw in a 27mm socket and leave the (expensive but lightweight) Best Rest tool behind?

I'm taking one of these too - fairly small and light but has a number of uses.

http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-1402L3-Original-Locking-Pliers/dp/B00004YO5N/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1336172199&sr=8-10

Ok, this configuration weighs 3 lbs and 3 oz:

All the stuff going out is up at the top.

 

[limey]

About 5 weeks ago I changed my Battle Wings for the K60s , first time I did a tire removal and install, I tried to use the fewest tools as possible. In the worst situation I would have to install a tube. I believe this is what I used out of my kit; 4mm allen key, 6mm allen key, 8mm allen key, 19mm stubby allen key, 19mm box end wrench, 3 tire spoons one box end for the axle nut 27mm. And a bead breaker. And a lot of muscle. And the f*#&ing First Aid kit.

 

[sail2xxs]

At the risk of adding weight, I would put in a strong vote for some zip ties, ratchet strap, gorilla tape, and a Stop 'n Go tire plug kit with the gun. I have used the mushroom plugs several times, and love the fact that I can plug the tire and be back on the road 10 minutes after I find the puncture, and without removing the tire.

Chris

 

[Twisties]

At the risk of adding weight, I would put in a strong vote for some zip ties, ratchet strap, gorilla tape, and a Stop 'n Go tire plug kit with the gun. I have used the mushroom plugs several times, and love the fact that I can plug the tire and be back on the road 10 minutes after I find the puncture, and without removing the tire.

Chris

That looks interesting. No glue is a big advantage vs sticky ropes, because as I just found out, even unopened, relatively new glue tubes can dry out or leak. On the other hand, with sticky ropes you can insert several if needed to repair a split. I fixed a half inch split once. With the mushrooms I don't think you could pair them up. I also don't like the weight ans size of the gun. Based on the videos on their site it seems unnecessary. Anyone ever try the no gun version?

 

[sail2xxs]

You're right about the mushrooms - I don't think they can be paired up. However, they are a couple different (not half inch though!)sizes. From past experience, once things start to get really messed up with a tire, a tube might be your best option. I've read about folks (guy in Africa) sewing his tire back together with dental floss, gooping it liberally, and making it along his way. Another post I read, someone stuffed all their clothes into the shredded tire, and that got them out, albeit slowly. The internal patches are a PITA, but also work well - check with Rem on the Rendezvous thread... he had posted some really good links about tire repair options.

Ratchet strap is good for lots of things - tying down gear, snugging the bike on a ferry, reattaching your pannier after a get-off when the mounts are screwed up, to tow another bike (or get towed), pull the bike around after dumping it on a trail, make a clothesline... you can get an even better effect with some good quality braided 3/8" line - couple loops in that, and you can create your own block and tackle and really multiply force when needed!

Chris

 

[Twisties]

Carried a tube when I had the DR-Z 400. Big, heavy.... but.... .... ....

 

[RED CAT]

Don't see a 5mm Extended socket end Allen for tightening spokes. A sliding 3/8 inch T Handle instead of the ratchet saves weigh. Also a 1/2 inch threaded coupling from a hardware store to fit the axels, saves weight. ::001::

 

[limey]

Don't see a 5mm Extended socket end Allen for tightening spokes. A sliding 3/8 inch T Handle instead of the ratchet saves weigh. Also a 1/2 inch threaded coupling from a hardware store to fit the axels, saves weight. ::001::

I think that is 3/4 inch =19mm

 

[stevepsd]

I think that is 3/4 inch =19mm

The 1/2" coupling nut (for 1/2" all-thread) has a OD of of 3/4" = 19mm

 

[Maxified]

At the risk of adding weight, I would put in a strong vote for some zip ties, ratchet strap, gorilla tape, and a Stop 'n Go tire plug kit with the gun. I have used the mushroom plugs several times, and love the fact that I can plug the tire and be back on the road 10 minutes after I find the puncture, and without removing the tire.

Lot of good tips in this thread. That Gorilla tape is great stuff and the mini-ratchet straps are multi-functional, ferry rides, flat-bedding, securing stuff on like firewood not near the camp site...